9 suspected female suicide bombers arrested in Sulu

Nine suspected female suicide bombers, including three daughters of Abu Sayyaf Group leader Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan, are under custody following their arrest recently in simultaneous operations in Sulu. JTF SULU

MANILA, Philippines — Nine suspected female suicide bombers, including three daughters of Abu Sayyaf Group leader Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan, were recently arrested in separate operations in Sulu, the military said Tuesday.

Joint Task Force Sulu identified the three daughters of Sawadjaan as Isara Jalmaani Abduhajan, 36; Jedah Abduhajan Amin, 28; and Elena Tasum Sawadjaan-Abun, 40.

Isara and Jedah were arrested in Brgy. Bangkal in Patikul town last Feb. 19. Elena, a widow of ASG sub-leader Walid Abun, was arrested in Kalimayahan Village in Brgy. Latih, along with Firdauzia Said also known as Firdausia Salvin, widow of ASG sub-leader Mannul Said.

Sawadjaan, tagged as the acting emir of ISIS in the Philippines, is blamed for masterminding several suicide attacks in Sulu.

In a separate law enforcement operation in Brgy. Tulay in Jolo, the police and military arrested Nudsza Ismanu Aslun, widow of ASG member Alias Jabar; and  Nurshahada A. Isnain, wife ASG member Alias Akram, identified as one of the trusted followers of ASG sub-leader Mundi Sawadjaan.

Other personalities under custody for the same charges were identified as Linda Darun Maruji, Risa Jhalil, and Sharifa Rajani, residents from Kalimayahan Village, Brgy. Latih in Patikul.

Authorities recovered improvised explosive device components such as switches, batteries, pipes, concrete nails, blasting cap, suspected ammonium nitrate fuel oil (ANFO) and detonating cord, JTF Sulu said.

In 2020, a pair of female suicide bombers blew themselves up in Jolo, which killed at least 15 people and injured dozens.